Blog Smith is inspired by the myth of Hephaestus in the creation of blacksmith-like, forged materials: ideas. This blog analyzes topics that interest me: IT, politics, technology, history, education, music, and the history of religions.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

- Who is your audience?
My audience consists of working adults approximately 35 years old. Since they are working adults they have generally worked all day and are taking evening classes between 6 and 10 PM. My learners are particularly challenged to be active and involved after a long day.

- What is your topic? Why is that interesting?
My topic is the Renaissance. It is an interesting area since it is the rebirth of western Civilization.

- Briefly explain your game. What is the fun in your topic/game?
My game is a modification of Civilization IV. Define in the topic word game is that it is a innovative way to introduce the course content. The learning is counterfactual or a counter history of what we know occurred. The student has history unfold before them. The fun is a more pleasurable way to learn in a required class.

- Where/how do you propose the game will be played?It will be in a computer lab. But how will be following a lecture or presentation about the period.
The game will be paid played in segments between 6 and 10 PM. It is a classroom University setting. Following an introduction the students move into a computer lab.

- Think about the curriculum assignment from Unit 1 - how do you think someone would use your game to teach?

WHO are your students? Consider their age, grade level, etc. My students are working age adults the average age about 35 And this is college level.

WHAT do you want them to learn? What are the content, skills, or ideas you want your students to come away with? ex: Underlying causes of the U.S. Civil War; Programming procedures; Pre-algebra understanding of variables I want them to learn history firsthand. The content is history but learning history skillfully through gameplay. The ideas I want them to come away with our depreciation of breaking difficult cultural decisions which may differ from the actual history, that is, counter history.

WHERE are students playing the game? What is the context? Are they playing the game and discussing it in more than one context? ex: At home; In a 6th grade Computer Science classroom; On the bus on their phone I would see them playing it for about one hour in a four hour class session. There is a possibility though which the game allows and that is to play online against other players.

WHY this game? What mechanics make it suited for this topic? ex: Role-playing as Abraham Lincoln, making decisions; Programming simple robots to complete game goals; Puzzles that require algebraic thinking to complete. The mechanics make it possible for students to make decisions about civilization and how history will unfold for them. They need to make decisions so that their civilization will survive and even flourish if possible.

HOW are you implementing the game? How are the learning goals of the game integrated into your activities and goals? ex: Before instruction, as a thought starter; As an in-class competition to stimulate peer learning; As extra credit or enrichment for a struggling student. The game is implemented as a part of the course in history. The game is integrated in that students are required to learn history but they should see it in a more personal way by building their own civilization. Peer learning is important because students need to learn the game and they can help one another and they need to compare their civilization with others.

As above, you need not create more than a page or a few minutes of video to make your point(s). Post your curriculum to a filesharing website (see our list if you don't already have a service you use), then post a link in your post in the forum. Check out how your peers responded. BE SURE TO MAKE THE DOCUMENT PUBLICLY VIEWABLE so that you classmates can see your work.

Guidance for Peer Feedback: Provide feedback to the two participants whose posts appear below yours. If those participants have already received feedback, look for participants who have not received any. Follow the Peer Review Feedback guidelines and consider the following: In your opinion, is this game suitable considering the subject matter and the identified students? Has the participant explained why this game will enable students to learn the desired subject/content? Do you think the game serves its purpose? Has the participant considered issues related to the implementation of the game? Examples: Would this game just be played once or would the students come back to it later? Would the students play the game with a limited population or everyone?

Redmond Magazine: The Independent Voice of the Microsoft IT Community;

Renan, Ernest, The life of Jesus (Sony eReader);

Richler, Mordecai (editor), Writers on World War II: An Anthology;

Roberts, Ian, The Energy Glut: Climate Change and the Politics of Fatness in an Overheating World;

Rocca, Samuel, The Army of Herod the Great;

Rodgers, Nigel, A Military History of Ancient Greece: An Authoritative Account of the Politics, Armies and Wars During the Golden Age of Ancient Greece, shown in over 200 color photographs, diagrams, maps and plans;

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National Debt Clock

"Congress: I'm Watching"

A tax on toilet paper; I kid you not. According to the sponsor, "the Water Protection and Reinvestment Act will be financed broadly by small fees on such things as . . . products disposed of in waste water." Congress wants to tax what you do in the privacy of your bathroom.